Starting a Research Thesis Chapter for Neonatal Kittens

Sometimes I feel so much written word is wasted; read by too few and forgotten in its digital vault. This is why learning to write research chapters in a way that conforms to the standards of academic publications is vital to research. I’ve been learning to write to the style of the American Psychological Association (APA), and many journals have their own protocols of formatting, but a research chapter seems to be a non-negotiable format unto itself and these constraints make it surprisingly easier to write. Currently, I am writing a first chapter for my research on a neonatal kitten simulation instructional design. This introductory chapter includes:

Background of the Problem

Statement of the Problem

Purpose of the Study

Research Questions

Significance of the Study

Definition of Terms

Assumptions, Limitations, and Delimitations

Overview of Chapters (Luo, 2017)

I am finding that I may have to go back and make several changes to this first chapter after writing the literature review. In particular, the definition of terms section has been going through several revisions already as I find citations for key items I plan to use within the study. When I began designing the simulation, my peers and instructor gave constructive feedback regarding my covered age span possibly being too large to successfully take on. Now, I am finding the term neonatal is not clearly agreed upon in veterinarian literature. I am also expecting to have to revise my limitations (what I am choosing to study) and delimitations (what I am not choosing to study) section of Chapter 1 after I fully designed my study and have participants in agreement to participate in the study because at this time I am remaining flexible until that is definitive.

The background of the problem section has been the most time-consuming to write thus far. This, again, will play a hand into the literature review section later so I know it serves me to spend time on it now. There is just so little information existing regarding neonatal kittens in shelter systems because there is no regulation of the programs and people are generally just good-Samaritans doing the best they can with what they have on hand. I know that my research is asking a lot in asking for the collection of information from these programs, but the reward (assistance in the form of training) I am offering in exchange should be enough motivation for some. There still comes a risk of incomplete data which will limit the study.